The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will investigate into allegations by the US that Syria was building a secret nuclear reactor, which the Israeli air force destroyed before it could become functional.

Israeli planes in a raid last September had reportedly destroyed a Syrian facility that allegedly contained a nuclear reactor. IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said the agency will use “this information with the seriousness it deserves and will investigate the veracity of the information.”

Syria, he said, is obligated under its safeguards agreement with the agency to report the planning and construction of any nuclear facility.

“Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the agency has a responsibility to verify any proliferation allegations in a non-nuclear weapon state party to the NPT,” he said.

“We also view the unilateral military action by Israel as undermining the due process of verification that is at the heart of the non-proliferation regime,” ElBaradei explained. 

Meanwhile, US intelligence officials are expected to explain why the photos were not released earlier.